With rumors of his freshman quarterbacks’ imminent departure swirling and team officials acknowledging he is considering a transfer, Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin is taking the “nothing to see here” approach.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday after the Aggies’ first Music City Bowl practice, Sumlin said he expects Kyler Murray to return to practice Thursday and start in the Dec. 30 game against Louisville.
Kevin Sumlin tells media he expects Kyler Murray to start Music City Bowl vs Louisville
— Billy Liucci (@billyliucci) December 16, 2015
Video: Kevin Sumlin on Kyler Murray: pic.twitter.com/ibawiaaxKP
— Brent Zwerneman (@BrentZwerneman) December 16, 2015
Video: More Kevin Sumlin on Kyler Murray: pic.twitter.com/0nhjhxiHYy
— Brent Zwerneman (@BrentZwerneman) December 16, 2015
What remains to be seen is if Murray can actually succeed as the Aggies’ quarterback. In eight games this season, the freshman completed 72-of-121 passes (59.5 percent) for 686 yards (5.7 yards per attempt) with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. He rushed 53 times for 335 yards and one score.
Murray’s 109.19 quarterback rating would not have qualified for the national top 100 had he thrown enough passes to qualify.
Murray is cleared to be the Aggies’ starter moving forward following Kyle Allen‘s transfer earlier this month.
One thing to note, of course: the two sides aren’t mutually exclusive. Murray can easily start Texas A&M’s bowl game later this month and then transfer before the spring semester resumes in January.